Mediation is an alternative option for settling your divorce, and as such, you need to enter into the process ready to have frank discussions. Preparing yourself for the negotiations is important to reaching your goals.
U.S. News and World Report explain mediation will only work if you are willing to compromise and talk through things with your spouse.
The key
The key to good mediation is two participants who want to work together. If you and your spouse cannot seem to agree on anything or you constantly fight whenever you try to have discussions, then mediation may not be for you. It is essential that the lines of communication are open and honest throughout mediation or you will not accomplish anything.
Helpful advice
It is also a good idea to go into mediation knowing what you want out of it. However, you need to be willing to compromise when needed to move the process forward. If you expect everything to go the way you want, then mediation likely will not work out very well for you. The process is about to give and take.
You also want to be open to working with the mediator. This person is here to help move things along and enable you and your spouse to work through important details to settle your marriage. You will have to make hard decisions, but allowing the mediator to take control can sometimes help. To do this, you need to trust the person and understand he or she is not there to take sides.
Mediation can work very well for some couples. However, you must be open to the process and willing to follow the rules to get good results.